Overview of GEF Mandate in Energy Efficiency

Abstract

Open image in new window As an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has a mandate to provide financial resources to support the diffusion and transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) to developing countries, and the development of such technologies within these countries. The GEF is also designated by the UNFCCC to finance capacity building and development in climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. In addition, the GEF Council has frequently articulated the importance of co-finance to maximize global environmental benefits with limited resources of the GEF. This chapter presents basic information about the GEF as a financial institution and its governance. The information will improve the understanding of how a GEF project is designed, managed, implemented, and evaluated by different GEF stakeholders. A number of key parameters in GEF energy efficiency project development and evaluation are discussed in the context of closing the gap of global energy efficiency.

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Acknowledgments

The author is indebted to Dr. Robert K. Dixon, head of the Climate and Chemicals team of the GEF and Mr. Andre Laperriere, deputy CEO of the GEF for directing this book-writing project, editing this book, and supporting the publication of this book at Springer London. The author is grateful to the following people for their contributions to developing database and editing this book: Ms. Megan Nicholson, Dr. Yun Wu, Ms. Ye Zou, Dr. Omid Parhizkar, Mr. Bjoern Buesing, Dr. Ruktai Ace Prurapark, Mr. Victor Raynaud, Dr. Linda S. Heath, Dr. Chizuru Aoki, Mr. David E. Rodgers, Dr. Lily Uy Hale, and Ms.Tingting Tang. Acknowledgements are also due to Dr. Lily Uy Hale, Mr. Neeraj Kumar Negi and Ms. Baljit Wadhwa, Mr. Kenneth M. Chomitz, Mr. Richard H. Hosier, Mr. Alan Miller, and Mr. Marcel Alers, Dr. Barbara Buchner, Mr. Michael Chen, and ten energy efficiency professionals of the World Bank, the GEF Evaluation Office, the International Finance Corporation, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of UNEP, the UNDP, University of Virginia Technology, and Springer in London for their comments on the book.

GEF (2012) Implementation of the Poznan strategic program on technology transfer: A progress report of the global environment facility to the subsidiary body for implementation at its thirty-sixth session. A GEF document to the UNFCCC. http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2012/sbi/eng/09.pdf. Accessed 15 May 2012.